Castlemaine Artist Market tomorrow.

I haven't attended a December before, so could be interesting. a customer from last month asked if I was coming back, which is why I will attend. If the heat keeps sales down or non-existent I will rethink this next year. I have found the market to be well organised and friendly, and I have had great sales over the past year including on a 38 degree day in early March.
I will have all my machine knitted items of course, along with my handspun and handdyed yarns. These would be a great gift to a knitter who always has wool in her/his hands.
Scarves and beanies would be great to send overseas to family members.
Today, at Nagambie Lakes Community Market was poorly attended so sales were poor for all stallholders.
Girgarre market next Sunday, and Mooroopna the following Sunday and then a break from markets in January. Of course lots of spinning, dyeing and knitting to do.

Washing Fleeces..

..I thought it was about time I started getting more fleeces prepared. I am currently carding one, so taking one bag at a time I have started washing another fleece bit by bit so the work does not feel so monotonous.
This week I have one of my poncho/wraps to replace, I am still spinning a soft merino in pastel colours that I blended. And I have been spinning white Corriedale tops at the markets, so will finish and dye another 2 this week.
Need to dye more wool tops as well, and start winding off the 8ply yarn for dyeing.
and after that will see what I can do extra.
Only one market next weekend.
Mooroopna Accredited Farmer's and Craft Market next Sunday.

Well the 3 days at Seymour..

..is over. Thought it was  bit slow with sales, but Sunday proved better. Friday compared with last year, Saturday was down, and Sunday way improved. It is an event that you never can tell. Probably go again next year to compare. Because it is the end of summer and most times it is extremely hot, but luckily this year we had 2 cooler days and Sunday warmed up.
so now, back to work to replace sold garments and think of new ones. Keep dyeing yarns and tops and I always am spinning.
Next market will be Nagambie Community Lake market on Saturday March 5th, followed by Castlemaine Artists Market on Sunday March 6th.

This week is busy but..

...not with crafting.
Tired after 2 markets, with the Sunday being a very long day starting at 4am and getting home at 6pm.
I have been spinning, and have started a beret combining commercial and handspun yarns.
In the meantime, I have 2 trips to Shepparton for Leigh's eye appointments to laser seal the detaching retina which was separating in 6 places. Nasty!
Also, a trip to Echuca to take some dyes to a customer, get a little shopping for my daughter whose youngest child who has been very ill with a chest infection this past week. Then visit my parents and see how my father is faring after his bout with pneumonia.
Whew! I look forward to next week with a trip to see Miss Fisher's fashion garments at Ripponlea on Wednesday, and my birthday on Tuesday.
Girgarre market is on this Sunday so hopefully get a few more items ready over the next couple of days.

We are now in 2015...

Christmas is over and the New Year has been hailed in.
I hope you have all had a safe and Happy Christmas and celebrated the New Year.
After a little break, crafting has to get going, and here in Australia we are going to experience some very hot days.
My Studio is equipped with a great air conditioning unit so I will be comfortable.
Today, I was able to do some wool carding of some white Merino fleece and some Corriedale grey fleece. And I have some Merino fleece in the dyepot.
2 skeins of merino yarn are soaking pre dyeing, and I am spinning up some more.
Back to work, now, while watching a favourite British murder mystery.

New Items..

...ready for ...
Girgarre Market, this Sunday.

It is...

....very dry here in Victoria. A recent fire across the road with the wind helping it along, was some concern, more because it could have been here with the wind blowing in our direction. But all good and 4 units put it out fairly quickly.
The garden is needing very regular watering but no weeding is getting done unfortunatly. While Leigh milks I do the garden in the mornings only.
Aso have to help my mother at times, sharing a few jobs with my sisters', as she is coming up for a shoulder repair.

Handwoven scarf from handspun Natural coloured Corriedale/Merino wool, plain weave
 



Machine knit summer cotton cardi...Bendigo cotton 4ply

Hand dyed grey fleece in 3 colours, blended once and handspun.

I have been spinning a lot, and machine knitting cotton  garments for our summer so am being very busy. I constantly look out for patterns to use or make up a few.
Above are a few items I have recently created.
Have organised a little trip to Papua New Guinea at the end of the month to visit my daughter Rebecca(Rebecca and the World) with her partner's mum as well.

Winter is coming...

...so I have been working hard after the Harrietville retreat. Some new yarns and other items added to the website.
Harrietville was a relaxing and learning process, with lots of fun in between. The historical dyeing was fun and interesting to note that Indigo changes as the yarn hits the air (that's another photo I haven't taken yet).
How to make better drum carded batts, I also liked, something for all those add ins that are talked about these days. I made some batts but instead of using them for Artyarns I made 2 ply yarns plying with some of my hand dyed tops.
Weaving tips, and wool combing with English combs was something else I was happy to participate in.

Muliticolour wool/fibre batt plied with hand dyed wool top

Muliticolour wool top plied with solid colour wool top

Light colour semi-solids

Handspun jumper and woven scarf

So, now I have completed a machine knit handspun jumper in Natural dark grey, a scarf completed off the knitter's loom, and some hand dyed semi-solids in light colours for a change. I am also adding 50 gram carded dyed fleece batts to my market stall as I do them, unless I spin them first.

Hand dyed semi-solid

Hand dyed semi-solid

  This big beast obtained from a clearing sale. A Gardner wool press of unknown vintage but has been in the family for a very long time.

Harrietville...

...here I come.
Whilst I was working shift work, I was not able to attend any workshops over the years, so for the first time this year I am going to the Harrietville weekend retreat workshop that is put on every year by the Handspinners and Weavers Guild (Vic). So am busily preparing the the requirements for the workshops on hand.
Art yarns, wool embroidery, Historical dyeing, wool blending with combs, and ideas for the knitters loom.
The best about it will be the new comrades I will meet and some I already know and the casual way the workshops work.
Will have some posting to do when I come back.

Mooroopna Farmers Market...

...tomorrow from 8.00am. I have spun some new yarn and have a few small items added to the craft table.

Hand dyed wool top plied with natural coloured fleece.

Child's beanie

Hand dyed Machine knit Scarf/Shawl

More Rain...

...here today which means wearing gumboots to the studio. 39mm at 7am still showering on and off during the day.
Have completed the back and 2 sleeves of a cardigan for an  machine knit order. And I am continuing with spinning some hand dyed tops (mine) and plying them with natural coloured wool. Also working on carding more wool for a spinning supply. Winter is fast approaching and I will need lots of handspun for the markets.
Working on a project for myself as well. Sometimes a girl has got to get some new winter woollies.
Need to post some photos when they are done.

Hello out there...

Very remiss of me not blogging. Internet service up and down. Upgraded to 4G Mobile so hope it becomes better.
Here on the farm this week we have had a whopping 6 inch rainfall resulting in flooded paddocks. We have a huge drain through the property and it is fast flowing and very high, about 18 inches below the bridge. Unfortunately thinking we were not going to get more than the first 3 inches we closed the door that takes water into the drain, so waking up Thursday morning found my Studio surrounded by a sheet of water. Water was lapping the verandah around the house as well. Due to the height of the drain, water was not going away as fast as it usually does.  To add to this proble, the property up the road from us unfortunately has flooded and is running down the road drains, seeping onto our propety around the Studio area so we are on Floodwatch. Everything is up high for the present until everything settles down.
I cancelled going to the Nagambie market, thankfully, as it has now started to rain again. The sheep and cattle have got some dry ground, so hopefully it will be okay!

Looking from house to our next paddock

Studio surrounded by water

Back verandah area

Luckily I had visitors from the Art Mooveau group, to the studio for a get together with coffee and cake on Wednesday. Lots of woollie goodies went away in their hands.
Some hand dyed wool tops and fleeces went over to the North East last Sunday and have new owners. So have had  productive sales this week to make up for lost markets. A recent visit over to Echuca also saw 19 skeins of wool yarns go to a new owner as well.
Once the rain event has finished will have to get more wool dyed. Do not want to increase the drain problem at the moment. So spinning a multi coloured yarn and some Alpaca for a client using handcards to prepare the fibre. Tedious but showing promise.

I am currently....

...spinning some medium-light grey Corriedale fleece from my own sheep so will be awhile before it gets posted to the website.
But in the meantime I have been knitting some mitts. A basketweave scarf in natural grey brown is also finished.
Another machine knit cardigan to be sewn up.

It is the Girgarre Market this Sunday (tomorrow) so will have thes finished items on the stal.
Visitors arriving late this afternoon for a few days. Never know how long so will have to have things at hand mto do whilst sharing a glass of wine or two.
Sheep are looking good with no hint of flystike so far. Thank goodnes!!
Cows and calves are going well, one expected soon. I think the bull must have had a rest every 3 weeks with these heifers as that is how long it is taking between each birth.

Last day of 2011..

As it is the last day of the year, I thought I should post something.
Today one of my sheep died. It was not unexpected as it has been unhappy for more than a week. I could not detect any flystrike and assumed it was an internal issue. He would drink and chew a little grass, so I let nature take it's course. He did not look like he was suffering, just unhappy. It was sad as it was my first actual sheep death since I started in 2007, so I consider I was lucky. This fellow was born here in 2008.
At present I have several projects on the go including some handspinning that I am going to give to a friend for her 60th birthday next week. It is a natural grey which I will then dye in her favourite colour. (So her daughter says.)
More skeins of the white alpaca have been completed, and I am balling them up for the client as I know how extra busy she is as a busy GP.
Wishing all my followers and visitors a Happy and Safe New Year and we hope 2012 will be a better one.

Winding down for Christmas...

I am winding down the markets with only one to go at Girgarre before Christmas.
We are having a surprise party for my father's 80th birthday the week before Christmas, so will be able to catch up with family that we haven't seen in awhile.
Fleeces have been baled up in the North East for value adding.
The remainder of the fleeces will be taken over to Riverina wool company in Moama, and some will remain for wool dyeing and spinning. I am hoping to have 100gm lots of hand dyed Corriedale fleeces for sale on the website and at the markets, next year.
A gentleman has approached me asking if I could use his Saxon merino fleeces. As these are very fine fleeces, I have offered to trial washing and dyeing and making small rolags with the handcarders as I don't think they will be suitable through the motorized carder. Could be very interesting. I will be getting these samples sometime after Christmas. The possible outcome may be suitable for felters.
The Vat room has almost been cleaned out of fleeces in preparation for the dairy revamp. Hard finding a new home for fleeces.
In the garden, tomato lants are growing, beetroot, zucchini, and bean seeds have sprouted. Have to keep up the watering with a lack of rain.
I am now ready to do the bands on the grey cardigan. I am happy with the lacework, and my compatriots love it, so I might get this in the Beechworth Old Schoolhouse Gallery for display.


 I am having a serious look at my natural fleeces and am working at spinning these for most of the summer, as well as my spinning commission.

Just another scarf that has been knitted on the machine.

Getting organised...

Although I seem to be very quiet here, I am working at crafting. The garden is still getting a makeover, and we are waiting on quotes for revamping the dairy. If quotes too high it may not be viable.
Baling day for the North East Yarns will be at the end of the month, so will look forward to catching up there at Wangaratta.
In the meantime I have lambs fleeces and bellies and pieces to go over to Riverina Wool in Moama, just have to find a day.
Another cotton poncho has been completed, and a little wool jumper needs to be sewn up before doing the neckband. I have a Natural Grey 3 ply wool on the machine which is going to be a cardigan.
And of course I am spinning some natural coloured grey yarn as well as the white Alpaca for a client.

Diamond pattern Cotton Capelet/Poncho

Who said there is not enough hours in the day!!!

Party Coaster Set

We had only 19mm rain last night but that will freshen everything up.
Saturday is busy with catching up at Mandie's, spinning (EGMTK) and then to Echuca for a Linen party at my daughter's unit.
The Girgarre Market is on this Sunday morning as well.

Okay...

...my blogging entries have been very poor lately but I have been using Facebook for quick entries.

Now, on the farm we have been calving very slowly and spread out, unfortunately, and we still have one to go. One of the older cows gave birth to twins, luckily 2 heifers, so a lot of growing for these tiny girls. i haven't taken any photos yet, because the day after they were born Mum wasn't well and had to be treated with Calcium successfully, but soon after one of the twins went missing, and could not be found anywhere. We have a lot of long grass around the channel area, so heaven only knows where she went, but after a week of not finding her she turned. So 15 cows and 15 calves in one paddock. We are very happy! Another paddock we have 10 Lowlines, ( 4 of which are heifers calving early next year) with 6 calves. In another paddock the Lowline bull has 7 heifers and a steer to keep him busy. Lots of animals now plus 44 sheep.

Of course I am always working at my crafting and have finally finished a machine knit cardigan, so hopefully am getting the hang of the machines now.

Handspinning always goes on, with the Alpaca for a client as a priority but I have done some natural coloured Corriedale for the stall.

And some seing, and I need to add more of these. Here is a sample.

So, since it is my birthday today, it is time to get ready to go to Echuca for lunch with my mother, children, sister, etc.

Okay....

..the workshop has been over a few days. It was a hive of activity from the moment we checked in and continued with food, fibre, frolicking, wine and Spinning. I don't think there was anyone in the group who did not have a wheel in front or some knitting in our hands. Jacey Boggs is an excellent teacher, (I am not sure I am a good student) and we all went away having learnt something and met some new friends.
Back to reality, I am continuing my alpaca commission spinning. I also have a machine knitted piece for a lady for her to use for her printing, if it is suitable. Farm stuff continues with calf watching, and feeding the sheep.

I am going to a new market on Saturday, Riverside Plaza Market in Sheepparton, under cover for a change.

MEMAC (North East Yarns) are having our AGM on Sunday at King River Cafe in Oxley. Nice cafe/restaurant always seems busy when we go there.

This weekend...

..is for me.
I am heading to Belgrave for a spinning workshop with the Insubordiknit Jacey Boggs. Mandie of EGMTK is the organiser. Should be a great weekend with much spinning and laughter.
Tonight I have a project to take to patchwork and am completing it today. We have been working on Round Robins, so can't put up any photos.

Working at Crafting...

...is the focus of these days before Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show.
I have spun and dyed some more thick and thin wool skeins. Will I have enough???
I also have been dyeing some wool tops to create extra interest.
In progress... knitted jacket on the bulky machine, hand dyed natural 8ply wool yarn; fine machine knitted boucle scarf/shawl which I felting with the machine embellisher; 50 gm packs of natural wool batts for onselling; and have started spinning an alpaca fleece for a customer.
I won't have a lot of time to do photos for adding to the website as most of the stock I hope will sell at Bendigo.
Please introduce yourself while I am there. I would love to meet anyone who reads my blog.
Tomorrow is also the regular market at Girgarre.